Scotland Team to face Italy: Ali Price to earn 50th cap

Glasgow Warriors’ scrum-half Ali Price is in line to make his 50th appearance for Scotland having been named in the starting XV to face Italy in the penultimate round of fixtures for the 2022 Six Nations.

28-year-old Ali Price made his international debut in 2016 against Georgia at Rugby Park and has since gone on to combine with Finn Russell to create an established partnership at 9 and 10. The two will start for the seventh successive occasion on Saturday.

In one of five changes made to the team that were defeated against France, Sam Johnson returns to the line-up following his start in the victory over England in round one of this year’s championship and will partner Gloucester Rugby’s Chris Harris in the centre.

Kyle Steyn makes his first start in the Six Nations having come off the bench against France in 2020. The Glasgow Warriors winger marked his first Scotland start in style last year, scoring four tries in the Autumn Nations Series against Tonga. Edinburgh Rugby’s Darcy Graham will occupy the opposite wing following three impressive performances so far in the championship, with Exeter Chiefs full-back Stuart Hogg once again captaining the side.

In the forwards, Glasgow Warriors’ Matt Fagerson returns from injury to start at number 8. Fellow Edinburgh back-rower Hamish Watson is also named in the starting line-up having missed out against France through Covid. Fresh from signing a long-term contract with Glasgow Warriors, Rory Darge retains his place.

Edinburgh Rugby’s Grant Gilchrist and Exeter Chiefs’ Sam Skinner are unchanged in the second-row from the France match.

In the front-row George Turner is brought into the starting line-up. Glasgow Warriors’ prop Zander Fagerson keeps his place in the first XV along with Edinburgh Rugby’s Pierre Schoeman.

In the replacements Ben Vellacott is in line to make his debut. The scrum-half has been capped for Scotland Under-20s and joined Edinburgh Rugby this season following two years at Gloucester Rugby.

Adam Hastings could make his first appearance of the 2022 Guinness Six Nations from the bench and will take his place alongside Sione Tuipulotu who is also named as a replacement.

Stuart McInally, WP Nel and Allan Dell are options in the front row as replacements while Edinburgh Rugby duo Magnus Bradbury and Jamie Hodgson are available to come off the bench in the back five.